Working with plumbing in an industrial setting could mean that the pipes have water, steam, or chemicals running through them. The plumbing materials you use need to have the ability to outlast whatever materials you are pumping through them. Ensuring everything works properly may mean using stainless steel or brass fitting and valves.
Valve Styles
When you are working with plumbing that requires a valve in part of the plumbing run, there are several types of valves you may need. If you are closing off the flow of fluid through a pipe, a gate valve or ball valve will work fine. These valves close the flow off completely when closed and can vary the flow when opened partially if you need that kind of control. Using a stainless steel valve can provide strength and durability to the valve that you need long-term.
If you are diverting material to several different locations at different times, a multi-position ball valve or diverter may be the best option. The flow can be open and flowing to one area and quickly changed to another pipe or location with just a turn of the control on the diverter valve.
Valve Seals
There are seals inside the stainless steel valves that allow the control handles to pass through the valve body and to seal the gate or ball against the pipe when the valve is closed. Standard valves often use some form of rubber seal, but when you are using stainless steel valves or other alloys for your valves, the seals inside may not be rubber.
Often stainless steel valves use seals that are made from urethane or similar material that is engineered to be chemical and corrosion-resistant. If you have any questions about the stainless steel valves you are considering, speak with the vendor or manufacturer about how you are going to use them to verify that they will work for your specific situation.
Buying Stainless Steel Valves
Industrial supply companies often carry a wide variety of stainless steel and brass valves that will work for your needs. The supplier is an excellent resource for information about the valves and which ones are going to be best in your situation. Talk to the supplier about what material you will be moving through the valves and how you will use them so they can help you choose the right ones for your situation.
You may find that there is a stainless steel valve that has seals and internal parts in it for your application already, especially if you are in an industry that may already be using the same chemicals in the same ways.
For more information on stainless steel valves, reach out to your local experts.
Share18 May 2020
Have you recently decided to start manufacturing your goods in house? Jumping headfirst into the wild world of industrial manufacturing can be daunting, so we started this blog to help small business owners succeed as they make this transition. Although we aren't experts, our amateur team tries to do the research for you. We gather the information you need so you can relax your search efforts. Our articles include information about new industrial equipment and supplies that you can use to kit out your factory. Come back regularly to see our new articles and keep up with new information about the industrial manufacturing sector.
